One week ago, we had the privilege of attending the Black Belt Seminar at Stara Wies, a landmark event in the European Kyokushin calendar.
Set in the peaceful surroundings of Poland's traditional martial arts retreat centre, the weekend brought together some of the most experienced instructors, referees and karatekas from across Europe. Led by Kyokushin legends Shihan Brian Fitkin and Shihan Howard Collins and supported by the Technical & Referee Committee of the European Shinkyokushin Organisation, the seminar provided an inspiring mix of tradition, technical depth and community spirit.
Focus on kihon, kata and refereeing
The central focus of the seminar was on refining our fundamentals — with in-depth sessions dedicated to kihon, kata and refereeing standards. Together, we worked to create a shared understanding of how Kyokushin Karate is taught, practised and judged throughout Europe.
A special emphasis was placed on Saiha, Tsukino Kata, Seienchin and Sushiho. These kata were explored in detail, with corrections, clarifications and insights that will help practitioners at all levels deepen their understanding.
Tipp: For years, we've been working with the Kata Book by Shihan Brian Fitkin, and we can highly recommend it. It is not only a valuable support when working on the finer details of each kata, but also a great reference to look up bunkai and clarify movements together with students. It can be purchased directly > here < .
Kata championship & refereeing exchange
A highlight of the weekend was a friendly kata championship, giving all participants the opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of competition. Whether seasoned competitor or new to the tatami, it was a chance to step outside the comfort zone and bring our kata to life in front of others.
For the referees, it was equally valuable — providing a real-time environment to practise judging, calibrate their decisions, and experience what it's like on both sides of the tatami.
Events like this also remind us how important it is to create space for exchange and shared learning. Only through dialogue and joint practice can we build a common understanding of kata competition standards — which is essential if we want to grow and evolve as a sport, both in quality and unity.
A shared vision
Beyond the technical content, the seminar was a powerful reminder of the strength of our Kyokushin community. We trained together, exchanged perspectives, and strengthened connections across borders — all driven by a shared passion for the art.
A heartfelt thank you to the Polish organisation, the EKO board and the entire organising team for the tremendous effort it took to host over 200 participants across one weekend.
Your work made this event a success and we're grateful to have been part of it.
At dojoHUB, we're now working to bring the key lessons and insights from this seminar into our learning platform — so that karatekas around the world can benefit from the same knowledge, no matter where they train.
Osu.
Pictures: European Karate Organisation
April 1, 2025